Rumsfeld Denies Tillman Cover-Up

Ex-Defense Secretary Rejects Personal Responsibility For Misinformation On Friendly-Fire Death

(CBS/AP)  Ex-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and other top former Pentagon brass denied any cover-up and rejected personal responsibility Wednesday for the military's bungled response to Army Ranger Pat Tillman's friendly-fire death in Afghanistan.

"I know that I would not engage in a cover-up. I know that no one in the White House suggested such a thing to me. I know that the gentlemen sitting next to me are men of enormous integrity and would not participate in something like that," Rumsfeld told a House committee.

It was Rumsfeld's first public appearance on Capitol Hill since President Bush replaced him with Robert Gates late last year. He reiterated previous testimony to investigators that he didn't have early knowledge that Tillman was cut down on April 22, 2004, by fellow Rangers, not by enemy militia, as was initially claimed.

The truth was kept from the public and Tillman's own family until five weeks later — May 29, 2004. Tillman's mother, Mary Tillman, and other family members watched from the back row at Wednesday's hearing before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

But former Joint Chiefs Chairman Richard Myers said he did know there were questions about Tillman's death long before the family and public were told the truth. But he said it was the Army's job, not his, to tell the family.

"This is the responsibility of the United States Army, not of the office of the chairman, so I regret that the Army did not do their duty here and follow their own policy," Myers said.

Rumsfeld and Myers both said they couldn't remember precisely how they learned of Tillman's death or that it might be friendly fire.

"I don't recall precisely how I learned that he was killed," Rumsfeld said. "It could have been internally or it could have been through the press."

Rumsfeld and Miers both denied telling the White House the real story, CBS News correspondent Bob Fuss reports, but said someone else at the Pentagon might have.

At the White House, presidential spokesman Tony Snow said the administration stands by Rumsfeld's comment that there was no cover-up of how Tillman died.

"I'm certainly not going to contradict Secretary Rumsfeld," Snow said.

"It is deeply regrettable that this sort of thing happened, and you try to make sure that it doesn't happen at anytime," he added.

Tillman's death received worldwide attention because he had walked away from a huge contract with the National Football League's Arizona Cardinals to enlist in the Army after 9/11.

Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., charged that unanswered questions surrounding Tillman's death reach into the highest ranks of the Pentagon and beyond.

"The concealment of Cpl. Tillman's fratricide caused millions of Americans to question the integrity of our government, yet no one will tell us when and how the White House learned the truth," said Waxman.

Greeting Rumsfeld as he entered the hearing room were two activists who held signs reading "war criminal."

"Are you not ashamed?" one said. Rumsfeld didn't react.

[realpatriot1]

rharrin/mudrose,

Speaking of rants, what's up with the peanut butter and jelly commentary.

I was enjoting a mid morning PBJ snack when you raised the Hillary cleavage visual. Now I may not be able to have lunch.

[prinzowhales]

Another possibility that explains 'seven-pesos' is that he is a graduate or doctoral student working on his thesis, perhaps involving group dynamics on the web, meme creation or advertizing....marketing...the general range of his commentary is suggestive of a set range of stimuli designed to only evoke reponses...but not encourage them through dialogue.

[mudrose-2009]

Posted by mudrose at 05:10 PM : Aug 01, 2007

Her legs don't spread as easy as yours. peanut butter
Posted by rharrin1

Why did you try to spread them for her, jelly?

[mudrose-2009]

mudrose wrote:

"Look the only thing that Rumsfield would be lying about is that Hillary has cleavage. That's why she's showing it because Elizabeth Edwards called her a man. So now we gotta see her cleavage and then she complains if it's in the news, calls it sexist. Always drawing some attention to herself. Showing cleveage. Who asked you. Cover up, b/itch. Nobody's wants to see your cleavage."

Sounds like you're jealous.
Posted by mcdazz at 03:49 AM : Aug 02, 2007

sounds like he is a subliminal mute--
obviously his focus is where this leadership WANTS it... distracted and irrelevent.
Now back to who will be best to stop the destruction of this country and democracy.
Posted by coffeehead

Why would I be jealous of a woman who is nothing more than an old socialist hag,who has a philanderer for a husband and pokes fun at the likes of suckers like you? And for those of you who feel you make significant contributions sitting on your a/sses here mimicking the a/sses on the Hill, you are their biggest suckers. They take your tax dollars and have conducted 300 investigations and turned over more rocks then what's in their heads and still can't find a thing. I mock commentaries on this site, because they offer nothing and are merely rants. Have a nice day.

[forthepeopl1]

have sent a 10,000 word statement to the heads of both partys. and also sent a copy to the vp, and whitehouse. let it be said here first..
stating that if they in anyway back down on this bill,and fold like ******* to this traitorest president/vp/rove/rumsfeld/ that
they will see a REVOLUTION IN THIS COUNTRY TO THE LIKES THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN..

I told them the only bill that should be sign by the president is a bill he owes to all americans i thinks its around 3.000,000,000,000,0000,000,00,000,00,00,

00,00,00,.
so go and arrest all of them. and america will stand behide you. you all will go down as hero.

we need not to be in iraq,iran,or any were in the middleeast.

to the president of the united states of america. you are not a dictator, no ones is listen to all the lies anymore. any true american in this country is gearing up to have you and your crime buddies taken out by force.

you have to be stoped!!!! as i am a vet. i only wish was i was still in so i could make sure no more of my brothers and sisters get murdered by you and cheney,rumsfeld,rove,and so on.


how come no more outside speaches?? what worried about something??? good its going to get worst so keep it up you chimp

nobodys listen to you asap. like i ask yesterday were have you served?? go ahead bigboy go and sign up? whimp,coward,pussie,chimp,like your fathers bush,cheney,rove,rumsfeld,and your mother connie

[mayihavemore]

Rummy would not engage a coverup, LIAR!
White house would not engage a coverup, LIAR!
Executive privilege is constantly being used by this white house. Politicians & pentagon decided too use Mr. Tillmans death as a recruiting tool. Now they offer 20 grand. Plenty of congressman are in national guard. Call them up!

[coffeehead-2009]

mudrose wrote:

"Look the only thing that Rumsfield would be lying about is that Hillary has cleavage. That's why she's showing it because Elizabeth Edwards called her a man. So now we gotta see her cleavage and then she complains if it's in the news, calls it sexist. Always drawing some attention to herself. Showing cleveage. Who asked you. Cover up, b/itch. Nobody's wants to see your cleavage."

Sounds like you're jealous.
Posted by mcdazz at 03:49 AM : Aug 02, 2007

sounds like he is a subliminal mute--
obviously his focus is where this leadership WANTS it... distracted and irrelevent.
Now back to who will be best to stop the destruction of this country and democracy.

mudrose wrote:

"Look the only thing that Rumsfield would be lying about is that Hillary has cleavage. That's why she's showing it because Elizabeth Edwards called her a man. So now we gotta see her cleavage and then she complains if it's in the news, calls it sexist. Always drawing some attention to herself. Showing cleveage. Who asked you. Cover up, b/itch. Nobody's wants to see your cleavage."

Sounds like you're jealous.

ovation3 wrote:

"I recently read that Hillary was a Republican in her early days in college. That's funny...Usually people are confused in their early years and wise up as they grow older. She seems to be doing it backwards."

She got wise to the Republican lies.

Republicans - care for themselves.
Democrats - care for Americans.

[meboard]

The only resonable question that can be posed to any official in this administration is, "What did you spin, and when did you spin it?"
Facts and truth are beyond their comprehension!!!

[red164]

liberalism. Shows how intelligent she really is. Smart smart women. I'm an Edwards supporter, but she'll make an excellent president if she gets the nomination. There's not a republican running that can beat her. Not one.

Posted by RandalDS at 12:44 AM : Aug 02, 2007

Rigged Debates And
Jailed Reporters
By Joel Skousen
World Affairs Brief
6-8-7

America's political king-makers may not have absolute control, but they do have effective control. Much of the manipulation of public perception comes through the establishment media, who serve as the self-appointed sponsors of presidential debates. When a candidate like Rep. Ron Paul, with millions of grass-root supporters, threatens to break through they sideline him as "second tier," limit his camera time, and suppress the overwhelming public support on post-debate web polls. When even that fails to work, we see them arrest reporters outside the debate arena who dare ask 9/11 conspiracy questions of the mainstream candidates.

Media moguls and other king-makers in America have always excluded less known candidates from debates by setting an artificially high percentage of popularity as a barrier to entry. Establishment pollsters also manipulate polling results by framing the questions to ignore minor candidates or using sophisticated computerized lists to poll a higher percentage of predictable voters in areas with known demographic values.

[randalds]

She was 16 and didn't know any better. After she grew up and learned she moved away from the dark side and into the light of progressive liberalism. Shows how intelligent she really is. Smart smart women. I'm an Edwards supporter, but she'll make an excellent president if she gets the nomination. There's not a republican running that can beat her. Not one.

[ovation56]

I recently read that Hillary was a Republican in her early days in college. That's funny...Usually people are confused in their early years and wise up as they grow older. She seems to be doing it backwards.
Republicans '08

[randalds]

I have no idea about the Africa Marine Barracks. I never heard about that one.

Posted by hungry1968 at 08:11 PM : Aug 01, 2007

That's because this troll obiwan234 has no idea what he's talking about and is just making up sh*it as he goes along. There was no Africa Marine Barracks attack. He's confusing the bombing of the Marine barracks in Lebanon (which happened on Reagan's watch) with the bombing of a US Embassies in Africa (Tanzania and Nairobi). In the latter case an FBI investigation resulted in indictments of 21 people, 12 of whom are either now dead or in prison. I would lay 10 to 1 odds that obiwan234 hasn't even got a son (or ever had se*x outside of a chatroom), let alone one on the Cole, since he seems to have the knowledge of about a 14 year old on this historical facts.

[pastdue1]

Clinton may have made some mistakes in chasing down terrorists, but he did not create terrorism in a whole section of the world. That has been the Bush administration's contribution to terrorism.
Additionally, I do not remember Clinton constantly blaming the preceding administration for everything that went wrong in his administration. This administration blames Clinton everytime they HAVE to claim "executive privilege." Clinton had an IQ. There is nothing more dangerous to our country right now than being governed by a group of mediocre intelligences who are trying to exhibit intelligence by never listening to more intelligent people.

[hungry1968]

Yes, I remember the Cruise missel attack on the Asprin factory, not real effective huh? Are you really serious? Do you remember the USS Cole? My son was aboard at the time of the attack, Africa Marine Barracks, Blackhalk Down etc., etc. NOTHING!!! Wag yourself.
Posted by obiwan234 at 07:22 PM : Aug 01, 2007


I have no idea about the Africa Marine Barracks. I never heard about that one.

The "aspirin" factory was a terrorist bomb making facility. Al Qaeda said it was an "aspirin factory". (Way to buy into the enemies propaganda!)

Blackhawk down was a Army Ranger and Navy Seal operation in support of the UN food program there. Once our troops were attacked, we left. What were we supposed to do?

As for the USS Cole, that happened too late in Clinton's term to do anything. It fell to the next president to do something about the perpetrators - Al Qaeda!! And what was done? The same thing as 9/11 - absolutely nothing!!!

[gkc99]

Look at his eyes!

I see one thing in Rummy's eyes I love to see.

FEAR

[seven-pesos]

five years in afghanistan and that idiot, bush, hasn't captured osama,

hasn't won the fight against the taliban.

hasn't won the fight in iraq.

actually, that creep, bush, hasn't accomplished one thing in his eight year presidency.

but they still love that idiot, bush, in the south.

"bush is a good christian"...they say in dixie.

"so we support him."

can you believe that *****?

war, hate, reborns, rednecks...

never a war the south couldn't lose.

nothing good comes out of the south.

[pepperp1]

Rumsfeld:

"I know that I would not engage in a cover-up."

Lie No. 6, 848, 894.

I hope one day the Tillman family find out the truth about what happened - one way or the other.

Posted by mcdazz at 05:52 PM : Aug 01, 2007

Agree, lies and more lies.

[seven-pesos]

never a war the south couldn't lose.

jefferson davis lost his,
johnson lost his
bush will lose his.

the south has lost every war they started.

idiot southern creeps are only good for sunday afternoon parades

in their tight-butt uniforms.

ha,ha,ha.

war, division, arrogance, phony christian creeps, crooked republican snakes...

nothing good comes out of the south!